Game apparatus.



c. w. HAMEL. GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5,1917.

Lm., Pat-@med- @11.8, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

une, ,35456-7B7HRE Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- C. W. HAMEL.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPucATxoN FILED JAN.5. 1917.

'lgt Eatend Jan. 8,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

f 7' F K/ 2@ if@ 7 /fb if jay/@ llllll blTAllS PATENT FFQFQ..

CHARLES W. HAMEL, 0F WELLS'lON, MISSOURI.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed January 5, 1917.

To @ZZ ywlw/a it may concern.'

Be it known that l, Cn'xunns lV. HAMEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVellston, St. Louis county, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in Game Apparatus, oi" which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to mal e and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings, Viorming part of this specification.

illy inif'ention relates to a game apparatus, the same comprising a board marked to represent a baseball lield, two sets of playing pieces represent-ing the players of opposing teams, and a plurality oi' boxes containing objects disti' ctively marked, all ot said parts being particularly constructed and designed tor playing an indoor or parlor game which is based on the rules and play of the popular and interesting outdoor game of baseball.

lhe principal object of my invention is to provide a comparatively simple baseball game apparatus, the play with which Will not only arouse but will maintain the interest of the players for the reason that it is possible to reproduce all the usual and unusual plays which are made by players in a regular outdoor game and at the same time it is impossible to foresee or determine the ultimate result of the game.

A further object oi my invention is to provide a game apparatus with vvliicli a number of sequential plays may be carried out and said apparatus being also provided With means vvhereby both sides may make signal plays.

lWith the foregoing and other objects in vieiv, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a plan View of a board marked to represent a baseball playing field and said board heilig equipped with the apparatus necessary to play the game.

Fig. 2 is perspective vievv of one of the game pieces which represents one of the players.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view oit a block utilized for keeping score of the game.

Figi illustrates a series of spherical ob- Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

serial no. 140,758.

jects which are utilized for determining the different plays in the game.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the boxes or containers forming a part of my improved game apparatus and which is used tor selecting at random one of a series of marked objects contained Within said box and displaying the selected object for the purpose of determining a play in the game.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective vieiv of a portion ot' the object selecting mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view oi parts of the object selecting mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 9--9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. l0 is a plan View ot a box utilized for keeping track of the strikes, balls, outs and runs made during each inning ol' the game.

Fig. il is a vertical section taken approximately on the line ll-ll oi"- Fig. l0.

Fig. lf2 is a vertical section taken approximately on line 12,--12 et' Fig. 10.

Fig. 1S is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line LSL-13 ot 1l.

Referring by nun'ierals to the accompanying drawings, lO designates a board which serves as a base for the game apparatus and appearing on the face thereof is a square vligure representing a baseball diamond and located at the corners of said diamond are small posts or pegs ll, ll, 11d and 11, the same being marked respectively, Honig First base, eecond base,77 and Third base.7

Projecting upwardly from the board to the sides of the base lines between home and first and third bases are two sets of small pegs or posts l2 upon which are adapted to be positioned the objects Which represent the baseball players. One of these objects is illustrated in Fig. 2 and it comprises a short tubular member 13 on top of Which is located a cap il preferably in the form of a small plate or disk, the latter being adapted to receive a players name or number or both.

Located on the game board, preferably to the rear of the peg or post marked Home is a row of boxes which serve as containers for the objects, preferably balls distinctively marked or colored and which determine the various plays made during the game. rlhese boxes also contain mechanism for selecting.

at random one of the balls and bringing it to a point where it is plainly visible to the persons playing the game. One of these boxes is illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, and it will be understood that all of the boxes of the entire set are alike in form, size and construction; that each box contains a set of play directing objects preferably balls, although said objects may be of any size, shape and construction desired. The objects of each set are distinctively marked with respect to the other sets or the sets in the other' boxes and the greater portion of the objects in each set are distinctively marked with respect to each other. In each set there are a certain number' of the objects similarly marked or shaped.

Each box or container comprises a pair of side walls 15, front walls 16, bottom 17 and top 18, the latter gradually declining toward its rear end.

Pivotally mounted on pins 19 which are seated in the upper rear portions of the side walls 15 is a Vsubstantially rectangular structure 20 open at its inner end, the same serving as a container for the balls or other play directing objects.

Pivotally mounted on the pins 19 is a plate 21 which normally occupies a position parallel with the inclined top 18 and projecting upwardly from the rear portion of this plate 21 in front of the open inner end of housing 20 is a series of staggered pins 22. Formed through the rear portion of this plate 21 is a substantially rectangular' opening 23 and formed in the rear portion of top plate 18 in direct vertical alinement with this opening is an opening 24` The sides and front end of partition 21 are provided with vertically disposed walls or flanges 25 and formed in said plate immediately adjacent to said walls or flanges are runways 26, the forward ends of which terminate adjacent to the sides of opening 23. Y

Fixed on thc plate 21 and extending rearwardly from the rear portions of opening 23 are vertically disposed lwalls 27 and the space between these walls forms a runway 28 which leads to the opening 23. A hollow post V29 is arranged to move vertically through the openings 23 and 24, the front side of said post being provided with one or more vertically disposed ribs 30, the same being mounted for sliding movement between suitable guides on the inside of the front kwall 16 of the box. Fixed to the front of this Y post and projecting outwardly through a vertically disposed slot 31 in front wall 16 is a small plate 32 which is adapted to be engaged by the thumb and linger of the operator, when said post is raised or v lowered.

may be manipulated.

Projecting through a suitably formed aperture in wall 16 from this block 37 is a lug 39, the same being adapted to enter notches 40 which are formed in the ribs 30 on post 29 when said post is at its upper limit of movement. Arranged for vertical sliding movement on the outer face of 'the .wall 16 immediately above block 37 is va block 41 provided with an-outwardly projecting knob 42 by means of which said block can be manipulated, and depending from this block 41 is one or more pins 43, which are mounted for vertical sliding movement in corresponding apertures 44 formed in the top of block 37.

Pivotally mounted in the upper end of post 29 is a small tilting platform 45 and pivotally connected to the free end thereofl is the upper end of a block 46, the same extending downward a short distance within post 29 and projecting through a suitably located aperture yin the front wall of said post. This block 46 is provided with aV re` 'cess 47 in which is adapted to engage a pin 48 which projects inwardly from block 41.

Fixed on top 18 is a centrally disposed member 49 which is formed of transparent material and substantially of inverted U- shape in cross section, said member extending from a point immediately above aperture 24 to the rear end of top 18 and its open rear end communicates with the interior of container 20. This member serves as an inclosed runway for the balls which are selected during the playlof the game, and as said member is transparent said balls may bek readily observed while in position on top of the platform 45 or while moving through said runway.

It will be understood that there are several balls for each box and that when inactive yor out of play, these balls occupy the.

rearwardly upon plate 36, thereby .disengaging lug 39 from the notches 40 and likewise disengaging lug 48 from notch 47.

The operator now engages plate 32 and by means of same moveshollow post 29 downwardly to the position illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 6 or until the lower end of said post rests upon bottom plate 17. As this movement takes place, pin 34 engages against the upper end of' slot 35 with the result that plate 21 is tilted so that its forward end is moved downward as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. G, and thus the entire set of balls within this, particular box will by gravity move downward over the inclined plate 2l, such movement being retarded to a certain extent by thepins or posts 22 `and which latter deflect the `balls from one side to another during their movement toward the lower end of the plate. As a result, the balls travel into the runways 26 and 28 and one of the balls will lodge on top of the platform 45, which latter', it will be understood, is positioned immediately below the aperture Z3 into which the runways discharge. The operator now raises post 29 by moving plate 32 upward with the result that plate 2l is restored to its normal position and the upper end of said post and the platform 45 with a ball thereupon are brought into position as illustratedy by solid lines in Fig. 6, .or with the upper end of the post projecting through aperture 24.

Block 37 is now moved inwardly to engage lug 39 in notches 40, thereby locking the post against downward movement and at the same time lug 4S is moved into notch 47.

After the players of the game have noted the ball thus brought into view, block 41 is elevated by proper manipulation of the knob 42, thereby tilting platform 45 to discharge the ball and the latter will travel downward through the transparent runway and finally discharge into housing` 20.

The series of five boxes immediately to the right of home plate are numbered from one to five inclusive from left to right and in the succeedingdescription, these boxes will be referred to by their respective numbers.

Box number l contains thirteen balls marked as follows, namely, four white balls each with one black stripe to indicate a one base hit; three white balls each with two black stripes to indicate a two base hit; two white balls each with three black stripes to indicate a three base hit; one white ball with four black stripes to indicate a four base hit orr home7 run; one purple ball; one brown ball and one blue ball, the latter three balls indicating` possible hits or hits under certain conditions.

Box number 2 contains nine balls, one of which is red to indicate foul batter out; one white ball to indicate a foul strike; one red ball with purple stripe to indicate a fly, batter out; one blue ball to indicate a fly and error; one yellow ball with red stripe to indicate fly, batter out, and base runner out stealing; one red ball with yellow stripe to indicate fly, batter out and runner sucsucceeding play should be made cessful in stealing; one blue and white ball to indicate fly and play allowed through error; one brown ball to indicate fly which results in either a sacrifice hit or scratch hit; and one blue ball to indicate a fly which results in an error.

Box number' 3 contains nine balls, one of which is red' to indicate sacrifice hit, batter out; one brown ball to indicate sacrifice hit, batter safe at first; one brown ball with red Stripe to indicate sacrifice hit, batter out with runner from first safe on second; one brown ball with blue stripe to indicate sacrifice hit, batter safe at first and runner from first safe at second; one brown ball with two red stripes to indicate sacrifice hit, batter out and runner from first out at second; one red ball with brown stripe to indicate a scratch hit, batter out; one brown ball to indicate scratch hit, batter safe at first; one brown ball with yellow and red stripes to indicate scratch hit, batter out and runner to advance one base; one brown ball with two blue stripes to indicate scratch hit, batter safe at first and runner safe at second.

Box number 4 contains seven balls, one of which is blue with yellow stripe to indicate catchers error wild throw to base; one blue ball with red stripe to indicate runner from first out stealing second; one yellow ball with two lred stripes to indicate two runners out on attempted double steal; one yellow ball with red stripe to indicate pitchers throw to base to catch runner; one blue ball with yellow and red stripes to indicate ball on the batter; one blue ball with two yellow stripes to indicate a double steal; one yellow and blue ball with two red stripes to indicate strike on batter and two runners out on attempted double steal.

Box number 5 contains nine balls, three of which are yellow with one black stripe to indicate a runner on first base; three yellow balls each with two black stripes to indicate runner on second base; three yellow balls each with three black stripes to indicate runner on third base.

Located in the center of the diamond is a box 50 which is a duplicate of the box heretofore described, said box 50 being designated the pitchers box and contained therein are seventeen balls as follows z-threc white balls each indicating a strike: four black and white balls each indicating a ball', two black balls each with one white stripe to indicate that the next play should be made from box number l; two black balls each with two white stripes to indicate thatr the succeeding play should be'made from box number 2; two black balls each with three white stripes to indicate that the succeeding play should be made from box number 3; two black balls each with four white stripes to indicate that the from box ice number 4; one green ball to indicate a balk, batter take base; and one red ball to indicate dead ball, batter out through interference with ball.

Located on the board 10 to the right of pin 11et representing first base are two boxes 51 and 52 which are identical in size and construction with the box heretofore described, the box 51 containing twelve balls utilized to indicate signals for the players of the team which is in the field; seven of,

these ballsl are colored pink and when said balls are displayed they indicate that the signal play is not allowed; one white ball which indicates that the succeeding play is to be made from the umpires box and which latter will be hereinafter described; one pink ball with blue stripes to indicate runner on irst'advances one base; one white ball with blue stripes to indicate an attempt to score from third on a bunt, scratch hit or sacrifice; one black ball with white stripe to indicate an attempt to score from third after a caught foul or fly; one white ball with black stripe to indicate an attempt to advance a runner on a sacrifice or scratch hit.

The box 52 contains twelve balls which are for the purpose of indicating the signal plays of the team which is at bat. Seven of these balls are colored green and when any one of said balls is displayed it indicates that no signal play is permitted; five balls differently colored or marked to indicate that it is the purpose of the side at bat to endeavor to advance runners on the bases by either squeeze plays or stealing, the results of such plays to be determined by deci'sions from the umpires box. l Y Y The umpire box'53 is located immediately to the rear of pin 1l which designates home yplateand this box contains six balls, three of which are white to indicate safe and three red to indicate out. The umpires box is only used when plays are made from the signal boxes 5l and 52. Y V

Located adjacent to the pin 11 which designates third base is a box 54 which may be designated the error box. This box contains nine balls numbered from one to nine inclusive, and when any one of said balls is brought to View it indicates that the player bearing the number corresponding to the exposed ball has made an error.

Located on the board 10 to the left of the umpires box 53 is an apparatus designed 'lor keeping an accurate record of the strikes, balls, outs and runs foreach inning of the game and of the total number of runs for the entire game, said apparatus including a substantially rectangular box 55 pro-vided with a transparent top 56 and divided by yvertically ydisposed partitions 57 into six compartments. Arranged for vertical movement in the front ends of five of the comthese slides 67 and partments are sliding members 58, each ofwhich is provided at its upper end with Va pocket 59. The upper portion of each compartment'is provided with a partition 60 which declines gradually toward its rear end and formed through the rear portion of said partition is anV opening Gliwhich is normally closed by a slide 62. Projecting 'upwardly from this plate through each opening 61 is a vertically disposed plate 63. Leading forwardly through the lower portion of each compartment from the opening 6l to the chamber in which the slide 58 operates is an inclined runway 64. The upper ends of all of the slides 58 are provided with outwardly projecting ears 65 which proj ect through suitable openings in the side wall of the housing 55 and these ears are respectively marked Strike, cBall, Out, Runs, and Runs.

The compartment having the slide marked Strike is provided with three balls. The compartment having the slide marked Ball is provided with four balls. vThe compart-V ment provided with the slide marked Out7 is provided with three balls. The first compartment having the slide marked Runs is provided with live balls, and the other compartment having the slide marked Runs is provided with an indefinite number of balls, the same being distinctively marked with respect to the five balls in the adjacent compartment, it being the intention to have each one ot the distinctively marked balls represent a plurality of runs or scores; for instance, five or ten.

en any one of the slides 58 is at its lower limit of movement, as illustrated in Y solid lines in Fig. 1l, one of the balls of the corresponding compartment rests `in the pocket 59 lower portion of the corresponding runwa while the other balls occupy the 64. When the slide is elevated, the ball y occupying the pocket 59 will pass onto the inclined plate in the upper portion of said compartment, and will thus indicate a strike, ball, out or run, as the case may be.

It will be understood that slide 62 is normally positioned so as to cut ofi the openings 61 and thus the various balls are main= tained in position onv the partitions 60 until the termination of an innmg whereby slide 62 is pulled rearwardly, all of' the balls to .pass through the respective openings 61 and discharge into the run ways 64. Y Y A The bottom of the sixth compartment in this apparatus isprovided with a pair of openings 66 and arranged to slide beneath these openings are plates 67 upon which 4may be written or printed the names of the contesting teams, and interposed betweenl the partition 66 is a slide 68 which maybe adjusted backward or forward sonas to close thereby permitting the plate provided with either one of the openings 66, thereby providing means for alternately displaying the names of the contesting teams.

Formed 1n the board to the left of the box 53 is a recess 69 and adapted tovbe removably positioned therein are rectangular blocks 70, such as are illustrated in Fig. 3, said blocks being provided with numerals on their faces, said numerals being intended to represent the scores made in the various innings of the game.

Appearing on the board immediately above this recess is the word Team, the numerals from one to nine inclusive, and the letters H. It. and E., the numerals representing the -nine innings of the game and the letters the initials of the words Hits, Runs and Errors. Blocks containing the names of the teams are put in the end of the recess immediately below the word Team and as the game proceeds, blocks are located immediately below the numbers of the successive innings, said blocks being turned so as to display the proper number of scores.

Formed in the board immediately above this recess is a pocket 71, the same being normally closed by a slide 72, said pocket serving as a receptacle for a reserve supply of balls and blockswhich may be necessary in playing the game.

Appearing at two places on the face of the board are rectangular spaces above each of which appears in a row, the word Na1ne, the numbers from l to 9 inclusive, and the letters H. R. and E. and to the left of each space appear the numbers from l to 9 inclusive. The numbers above each space indicate the various innings and the numbers to the side of the space are the numbers of the players. Located in these spaces near the corners thereof are small pins or posts 73 which are adapted to serve as retainers for rectangular sections of cardboard or paper, the same serving as score sheets and being provided with cross lines which form spaces adapted to coincide with the numbers above and at the sides of the scoring spaces. These score sheets are preferably put up in blocks or pads in order that they may be readily torn 0E and placed in position between the pins 73.

In playing the game with my improved apparatus, one of the contestants places the object' representing the first batter on the pin l1, said object comprising one of the tubular members carried thereby. The opposing player now manipulates the post 29 in the pitchers box 50 to bring one of the balls contained in said box into view, and this ball determines the play. For instance,each white ball displayed at the pitchers box indicates a strike; each white and black ball a ball; the green ball a balk which permits the batter 13 and the plate or head to take first base; or if the red ball is displayed it indicates a dead ball and thatI the batter is out through interference with the ball. In the event that a black ball with one white stripe is brought to view in the pitchers box, the next play is made from box number l or if the black ball with two white stripes is displayed at the pitchers box, the succeeding play is made from box number 2. Likewise, if a black ball with three white stripes appears at the pitchers box, the succeeding play is made from box number 3; and if a black ball with four white stripes appears at the pitchers box, the succeeding play is made from box number 1I. The appearance of a white ball with one black stripe from box number l indicates that the batter has made a one base hit; a white ball with two black stripes indicates a two base hit; a white ball with three black stripes a three base hit; a white ball with four black stripes a four base hit; or in the event that a purple ball, a brown ball, or a blue ball is brought to View in box number 1, then the succeeding plays are made from boxes 2, 3 and at respectively.

In the event that there is one or more men on base, the signal plays from the signal boxes may be resorted to and if there is any question as to the result of the play after the signal plays have been performed, the umpires box is resorted to and the appearance of a white ball indicates safe or the appearance of a red ball indicates out.

During the play, if a blue ball appears or a ball which has a blue stripe in combination fwith another stripe, the succeeding play is made from the box 54 and the appearance of a numbered ball in said box indicates the player who made the error.

A record of the strikes, balls, outs and runs of each inning is kept by a proper manipulation of the slides 58 and each time one of these slides is elevated, a ball is brought into view in the corresponding compartment and at the termination of an inning or half inning, the result in runs can be indicated by means of one of the blocks 70 placed in the proper position in recess 69.

The players score is kept on the cards or sheets of paper which are positioned between the pegs or pins 78.

In the foregoing description I have referred to the play directing objects used in the boxes as being distinctively colored, but it will be understood that said objects may be distinctively marked in any suitable manner; for instance, by means of numbers, letters, characters, symbols, and further said objects may be constructed of any suitable material and of any practical size.

A game apparatus of my improved construction is comparatively simple, and provides an interesting and entertaining pas- .ti-me by reason of the fact that in playing ISO the game it is possible to reproduce all of the plays which occur in an outdoor game.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved gaine apparatus can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the ap pended claims.

I claim:

l. In a baseball game apparatus, a board provided with the representation of a baseball diamond, a series of containers, a plui'ality of distinctively marked objects in each container,and manually manipulative means associated with each container for selecting at random one of the distinctively marked yobjects. to determine the plays of the game.

2. In a baseball game apparatus, a board provided with the representation of a baseball 'diamond, a plurality of containers, sets of objects in each container, the objects of each set being distinctively marked with respect to the objects of the other sets, and the individual objects of each set being 'distinctively marked with respect to the other objects of said set, and manually manipulative .means associated with each container for selecting at random one object of each set for determining the plays of the game.

3. In a baseball game apparatus, a board provided with the representation of a. baseball diamond, a housing positioned on said boardV and having a transparent portion, a container associated with said housing, a set Vof distinctively marked objects normally positioned Awithin'said container, a tilting platform associated with said container and adapted to receive the distinctively marked objects, and a manually manipulative sliding member associated with said platform for selecting at random one of the objects from the platform and carrying it to a position of view beneath the transparent portion of the housing.

t. In a baseball game apparatus, a board provided with the representation of a baseball diamond, a housing positioned on said board and having a transparent portion, a container associated with said housing, a set of distinctively marked objects normally positioned within said container, a tilting platform associated with said container and adapted to receive the distinctively marked objects, a manually manipulative sliding member associated with said latform and a manually manipulative object-receiving memberarranged for sliding movement in` the upper portion of said Vfirst mentioned sliding member. Y

5. In a baseball game apparatus, Ya housing provided with a compartment having an inclined bottom, there being a plurality of distinctively marked objects in said com- 'Inga partment, and. manually manipulative means `mounted for vertical sliding' movement in sitioned within said container, a tilting platform associated with said containerV and adapted to receive the distinctively marked objects, a manually manipulative sliding member associated with said platform for selectingv at random one of the objects froml the platform and carrying to a position of view beneath the transparent portion of the housing, and means for looking said 'sliding member in its elevated position i.

7. In a baseball game apparatus, a housing having a transparent' portion, acontainer movably mounted within saidhousportion of the housing;

S. In a baseball gameapparatus, a board provided with the representation of a baseball diamond, a housing on the game board, an inclined runway forming a part of said housing, a portion Vof .which runway isv transparent, a container pivotally mounted Vin the housing at the lower end of the runa series of distinctively markedobjectsway, a tilting platform associated with said container, a series of distinctively marked objects normally .positioned within the con-i tainer and adapted to pass over the vtilting platform, and a member arranged for vertical sliding movement within the. housing and adapted to select at random one of the objects from the tilting Vplatform and ele-Y vating said object to the upper end ofthe inclined runway. f Y,

9. In a game apparatus, ahousing pro- `vided with an inclined runway, a portion of which 1s transparent, a container into which the lowerend of the runway discharges, a set of distinctively marked objects normally positioned within the container, and manually manipulative means for selecting at random one of said objects and shifting itfrom the container to the'uppei` end of the inclined runway. v 10. In a baseball game apparatus, la board provided with the representation of a baseball diamond, a housing on thegame board, an inclined runway forming a part ofsaid housingga` portion of which runway is transparent,a container pivotally mounted in the housing at the lower end of theV runway, a tilting platform Yassociated with said iis container, a series of distinctively marked objects normally positioned Within the container and adapted to pass over the tilting platform, a member arranged for vertical v sliding movement Within the housing and adapted to select at random one of the objects from the tilting platform and elevating said object to the upper end of the inelined runway, means for looking said slidmg member in its elevated position, and

means associated With said sliding member for unseating the object from the upper end thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aHiX my signature in the presence of tivo Witnesses, 15

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

Washington, D. C. 

